Essential Tools for Cleaning Your Computer Here are the essential items you'll need: Compressed air can. Microfiber cloths. Isopropyl alcohol (99%)
Isopropyl Alcohol - When you need to remove stickers or clean anywhere on your PC that cannot be exposed to moisture, isopropyl alcohol is perfect. The potent liquid dries without leaving residue and dissolves even the peskiest buildups of grime.
Use a microfiber cloth to wipe away any particularly stubborn dust. Never use paper towels to wipe anything down inside a system, because they tend to leave lots of small fibers and dust on textured surfaces. A microfiber cloth leaves nothing behind.
Avoid liquid cleaners if possible: A dry soft cloth, such as a microfiber or lint-free cloth, is often sufficient for removing dust and light smudges. If necessary, use distilled water: For tougher stains, lightly dampen the cloth with distilled water.
DO use a 70-percent isopropyl alcohol solution (rubbing alcohol). DON'T spray a cleaning agent directly on your computer's surface. Spray your cleaner onto a cloth first and then gently wipe the cloth over the surface. DO wring out your wipe or cloth so it's not dripping wet, just slightly damp.
Use a microfiber cloth or an anti-static screen cleaning wipe to gently remove dust and smudges. Avoid using paper towels or regular cloths, as they may scratch the screen. For stubborn stains, lightly dampen the cloth with water or a 50/50 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol.
To completely get rid of the dirt, use wet wipes. Wipe each fan blade with them and don't worry about moisture getting on the wires. All cables are well insulated, and by the time you reassemble the PC, any remaining liquid will have evaporated.
Wiping a computer hard drive is different from shredding because it merely erases any stored information while keeping the physical hard drive intact.
Lastly, using abrusive materials like rough clothes or paper towels can scratch delicate surfaces inside the computer. It is important to use the right tools , such as anti-static brush and microfiber cloth , to avoid these common mistakes when cleaning a computer's interior.
Safety Tips!
Do not use a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer to clean your PC fan. This may create static buildup and discharge into the sensitive electronics inside the computer case.
A disposable cleaning cloth or a paper towel dampened with a little water should work well for pulling dust off of the filter—but if the filter gets wet be sure to let it dry completely before reinserting it and turning on your computer.
Isopropyl alcohol, also called rubbing alcohol, is safe to use just about anywhere on your machine, even the LCD screen. In fact, this is what they use in factories to clean computers before they are shipped out.
If you know how to remove your components, it can be a good idea to remove everything from the case and remove any dust using short bursts of air. Before you put your system back together, we recommend doing some cable management to ensure that there is a cleaner passage of air running through your system.
No, because most vacuums generate static electricity which could damage your components. You're better off using an electric duster designed for electrical components, like a DataVac.
When wet components are exposed to moisture, they can short circuit. This rush of electricity can cause issues for everything from your motherboard, connectors, hard drives, and more.
Turn the power off and unplug your computer. Open the case and take a look, if there's a lot of dust, remove the largest chunks by hand.
Alcohol wipes are perfect for cleaning electronics as well as disinfecting hard surfaces.
Keep the ports clean and dry: Regularly wipe down the metal ports with a dry, clean cloth to remove any dust or debris. Avoid using any liquid or water to clean the ports as it may cause damage. Use protective covers: Consider using protective covers for your ports when they are not in use.